[Mb-civic] Extreme Jan 1

Wed Jan 11 19:24:35 PST 2006

Kevin:

Could it be that I actually agree with 99% of what you have written here?! 
(LOL)

"Dumbed down" America, indeed: a recent national poll indicates that almost 
50% of Americans think its OKAY for the NSA to spy on Americans!

"Stop waving that god damn piece of paper at me," said Bush.  He also said, 
"This country would be alot easier to run if it were a dictatorship." 
Hmmm...

You say, "All extremes at some point need to be met with extremes to counter 
the effect."  This is called the "rubber band" effect: when you pull a 
rubber band all the way to one side and let it go, it shoots back to the 
other extreme side before coming to rest in the middle.  And it is sad, but 
true, re the current socio-political situation in the U.S.: we may need to 
pull the rubber band all the way to the other side in order to get it to 
land somewhere in the center.

You quote Goebbels re the (ab)use of media.  You might also cite Orwell, who 
went even further and said that, in order to gain and maintain power, all a 
government has to do is control the "language and symbolism"; i.e., symbols 
are manipulated, language - not just as propaganda, but simply as "spoken" 
and written - becomes a tool, and perception becomes truth.  Ultimately, 
though, Orwell suggested (correctly, as we have certainly seen here in the 
U.S. since 9/11) that TRUE control comes through fear - and the continual 
manipulation of that fear.  (Color-coded terror charts, anyone?)

Re "Patriots do not seek truth - they follow and listen," I think you mean 
"nationalists"; although it is true that Samuel Johnson said that 
"patriotism is the last refuge of a scoundrel," patriotism is actually, by 
definition, "love of country" - with which there is nothing wrong, until it 
turns into "nationalism," which is a form of zealotry, bigotry and 
arrogance.

Finally, regarding the separation of church and state, keep in mind that the 
idea of the "Founding Fathers" was not freedom FROM religion, but freedom OF 
religion.  In this regard, Michael is correct that, technically, the 
separation of church and state was created to prevent the STATE (in the case 
of the founding fathers, they were referring to the King) from controlling 
the CHURCH - as was the case in England at the time.

Still, as Michael also points out, whether it is the state controlling 
religion - and, more to the Constitutional point, ESTABLISHING one 
particular religion over another or all others - or religion (in this case, 
the so-called Christian Right) controlling the State, "Histories tell some 
very bad stories in either case."  They are almost certainly going to tell 
one about the Bush Administration.

Peace!

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Kevin Marcari" <kmarcari at optonline.net>
To: "'Michael Butler'" <michael at michaelbutler.com>; "'Judy McDowell'" 
<judylynn at hamptons.com>
Sent: Tuesday, January 10, 2006 10:12 AM
Subject: [Mb-civic] Extreme Jan 1

> Michael-
>
> I enjoy reading your blog....
>
> But... hasn't the majority been tolerant, moderate and civil all along?
> Not only have we been tolerant, but extremely silent- or should I say
> silenced. So in this case, less tolerant and extreme may mean being
> heard over the lunatic religious right, controlled media, and corrupt
> government.
>
> Do you think the extreme religious right movement could have been
> neutralized if it wasn't for a silent/ silenced majority? Is this a case
> where tolerance of fanatics backfired? I believe a vocal, extreme in
> your face kind of tolerance needs to emerge now, before it is really too
> late.
>
> The majority of this great country thought the extreme religious right
> moving into government would be a quirk, short burst- and then fade
> away.  Religion back fired on Bush Senior as you recall because the
> EXTREME religious right is a minority and can not carry an election
> unless there is fraud. Unfortunately for George Bush Senior at the time,
> Tom Feeny didn't start testing back doors to ES&S and Diebold machines
> until 1999.
>
> Since 2000 we have had a systematic take over of our government by the
> PNAC through election fraud- seen only in banana republics until now.
> Since the "sElection" was decided by our Supreme Court (why?), we have
> seen an intentional blurring of separation of church and state - very
> extreme to say the least.  Then we have Dover and Kansas with
> "Creationism" masquerading under a new label "Intelligent Design". You
> have Karl Rove saying Bush will make a Constitutional change regarding
> gay marriage?  Why didn't the media report the president could not do
> that; in 2006- I am not sure what the pResident can not do...
>
> I think the "dumbed down" American middle class thought our Constitution
> was strong enough to withstand an assault, it is not.  George Bush
> actually said "Stop waving that god damn piece of paper at me".  Didn't
> he take an oath to uphold it- twice?  Add to this the extreme gang of
> four using the extreme religious right as puppets to further their
> agenda- extreme trouble for freedom.  Unless "We the People" get
> EXTREME, demand our rights and liberty back; then demand religion stay
> where it belongs, we will continue into a fascist (perceived religious)
> state. If one truly believes in a religion, it belongs in ones heart not
> a ballot box.  It belongs in a house of worship, not a school.
>
> All extremes at some point, need to be met with extremes to counter the
> effect.  I hope our extreme will be the full extent of our laws pushed
> to the limits by the centered majority- Jail Time.  Unfortunately until
> people see, hear, and read the truth, it can not, will not happen.
> People march, but the media will not cover it.  People scream, the media
> turns off the volume.  People write and few know where to look to read
> it.
>
> Our media is controlled as we all know.  I quote Goebbels, "What you
> want in a media system is ostensible diversity that conceals actual
> uniformity" Goebbels went on to say - "Give me the German media and I
> will give you Germany.  Deregulation of our media has created the same
> situation as 70 years ago in Germany and people need to know. People
> need to know the largest lobby group in DC is not energy, auto,
> insurance or Jack Abramoff, but the media itself who would not report on
> themselves, or their parent companies making billions off this unjust
> war.
>
> One day soon your blog and this email stream will be enough to arrest
> us. Patriots do not seek truth- they follow and listen. It takes no
> effort to wave a flag and scream "Support our Troops" but it takes great
> effort to seek the truth and demand accountability.
> Kevin
> PS- Attached is 14 characteristics which are worth reading if you have
> not already.
>
> I just found this- http://www.unknownnews.org/060106a-cr.html
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Michael Butler [mailto:michael at michaelbutler.com]
> Sent: Monday, January 09, 2006 1:26 AM
> To: SPECIAL from Michael Butler
> Subject: Debate Over Faith
>
>
> Michael Butler's Blog
>
> http://www.michaelbutler.com/mbblog.html
>
> http://www.michaelbutler.com
>
>

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